Holding Unto You

chapter 23

"Hi mom, kumusta po?" Tanong ko kay tita habang naghahain

"Still no progress, magdadalawang linggo na" sagot nya habang stress na stress na nagiintay ng pagkain

For almost two weeks since nakulong si daddy, we stopped going to school

Nung sinubukan kasi namin everyone was just talking about us, kaya ginaya ng mga teachers is nagbibigay sila ng powerpoint and activities for us here at home

And for almost two weeks mommy glads always go out to check on dad

For weeks we cut every social media we have, kaming apat nila Ali

Ash was always there, sya yung pumupunta sa school to get the activities we need to do

Sya din bakikipagusap sa school namin

He does this kasi ayaw nya kaming maexpose sa social media

The last time Kia opened her accounts nagalit sya sakin, but she was able to talk to dad and mom kaya naintindihan nya na din

Ash also do the groceries for our house alone at halos dito na din sya tumira

"Kumain na kayo?" Tanong ni tita tsaka ako tumango

"I brought ice cream, samahan mo ko kumain" sabi ni tita kaya naupo ako

I saw ash na palapit samin, mukhang kakagising nya lang

"Hi tita, kumusta po?" Bati nya bago naupo sa tabi ko

"The lawyers are hopeless, ni hindi ko malapitan si daddy" sagot nya and I can really see how concerned she is

"Things are really hard, di na ako magpspanggap ps na everythings under control" dugtong nya and I can see she's about to cry

"Thank you Ash, for bring thr man of the house even if its not your responsibility. I know my girls are safe here kahit iwan ko sila, kasi you're here" mom gave him a smile

"Anything for this family tita" simpleng sagot ni Ash bago kami kumain ulit

After namin ay kinuha na ni Ash yung ice cream sa ref

We cut some staffs after what happened, dahil kailangan na tipirin yung nstitirang pera

After kumain ay umakyat na din kami sa rooms namin

"Grabe love naaawa na ako kay mommy, she looks so stress. If only I can do something for her" sabi ko habang nagboblower ng buhok

"Love, you dont have to stress yourself. You have me ok? Ang importante you're helping her sa pagaasikaso sa mga kapatid mo and thats more than enough" sabi ni Ash habang nakasandal sa table ko at nakatingin sakin

We heard a knock on the door kaya binuksan ko yun dahil nakatopless pa si Ash

He's always likr that pagdito ss kwarto

"Ana can we talk?" Sabi ni mommy pagbukas ko

Hinila kk yung robe na nakasabit malapit dahil nakapangtulog na ako

"Sige po" simoleng sagot ko

"Intayin kita sa garden" sabi ni tita then gave me a smile bago umalis

"Usap daw kami sa garden" paalam ko kay Ash bago lumabas

Pagpunta ko sa garden I saw tita with cigarette in her hand, first time ko sya nakita na may ganun

"Kanina ka pa? Sorry I just need this for stress" sabi nya kaya I smiled at her

"Is everything ok mom?" Tanong ko tsaka sya naupo

"Yes feels like I need someone to talk to, among 4 of you ikaw ang alam ko na mas magaling makinig" sabi ni mom kaya naupo na din ako sa harap nya

"You know what I can see your dad kay Ash" umpisa ni mom

"Let me tell me you our story" sabi nya sakin kaya nakinig ako

"Your mom was still pregnant sayo, I met them at the party. Your mom is a girl na madiskarte kasi breadwinner sya nun eh. Your lolo and lola doesnt like her, alam mo naman yun diba?" Tanong kaya I nod

"But your dad, para syang si Ash. He can break walls just to be with you. Remember? Ash brought you as his girl sa party dito mismo sa bahay. Your dad also bring your mom to parties, and they leave everytime your dad feels that his girl is not welcomed. I liked him for that, I admire his love for your mom" dugtong ni mom and I smiled kasi naalala ko lahat ng ginawa ni Ash for me

"Nung nanganak yung mom mo, I was there actually. Yung dad mo kasi hindi sya nakapunta agad sa hospital kaya ako yung kasama ng mom mo sa delivery. Biglang nagflat line yung mom mo paglabas and the doctor gave you to me. They tried to revive your mom, you're crying and I'm trying to stop you pinapatahan kita but it's like your mom heared your cries bumalik yung heartbeat nya. She was able to open her eyes a bit kaya ipinatong kita sa kanya, she gave you a light kiss on your head kasi yun yung abot ng lips nya after that she stopped fighting. Kaya ako ang unang nakapagkarga sayo" kwento ni mom with smile on her face

"Hindi ko alam na habang kasama ko ang mommy mo sa panganganak, naaksidente yung parents ko. Both of them are in life machine, kaya pala ang tagal nakarating ng dad mo sayo kasi inasikaso nya parents ko. It was my greatest downfall, 20 lang ata ako that time" I'm just listening to her

"I cant forget what your dad told me, sabi nya sakin he will stay by myside to get through everything. He just wants me to be a mother to you" sabi nya kaya nginitian ko sya

"You did great mom, you're more than just a step mom for me" sagot ko and she smiled back

"I can see how your dad did his best to love me, luckily nagwagi ang mommy gladys mo.

"But you know, you can never replace someone. He loved me, I was with you while growing up, but I know that I'm not even close to replacing your mom. Your dad still keeps a picture of her in his wallet, and you it took me years bago mo ako finally natawag na mommy" right now I can feel her pain

"Naisip ko, siguro kung hindi ako loko loko dati. If I grew up prim and proper maybe your dad liked me first, baka ako naging totoong mommy mo. Pinili kong ienjoy yung buhay ko, I go to parties almost every night, my grades? Ang importante makapasa. Total opposite kami ng mom mo, kaya nung nagkaroon ako ng chance sa dad mo I changed and its for the better." Tuloy na kwento ni tita

"I have an advicr for you. Right now you're too dependent to Ash, like how I was to your dad when we started. But please along your relationship, try to have time for yourself. There will be times when you have to face things by yourself. Kasi ngayon nahihirapan ako without your dad, kasi di ko alam ano gagawin ko" nakita ko na yung iyak ni tita

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya, I saw ash na nakasilip din sa bintana

I hugged tita habang sinusubukan na patahanin sya

"Your dad always have plans for everything, pero eto? Wala, kahit sakin wala syang sinabi kung ano gagawin ko" humahagulgol na sabi ni tita

"We'll get through this tita, we're always here for you" sabi ko pero nsramdaman ko na umiling sya

"I need you to be strong for yourself and for your siblings. I need you to be by their side no matter what ok? You can keep your family together" sabi nya habang hawak yung pisngi ko

"I'm happy to have you as my eldest, walang mababago dun" dugtong nya before giving me a kiss on my cheeks

"Happy din po ako na kayo yung maging mommy ko habang lumalaki, thank you pi kasi hindi nyo ako pinabayaan kahit hindi nyo ako totoong anak" sagot ko and she smiled

"Hay nako ang drama na natin, I think its time for us to sleep na" natatawang sabi ni mommy kaya natawa na din ako

Sabay na kami umakyat

"Goodnight anak, I love you" sabi ni mommy pagtapat sa pinto nils

"Goodnight po, I love too po" simoleng sagot ko bago pumasok sa pinto ng kwarto ko.

"Ano pinagusapan nyo?" Tanong agad ni Ash pagpasok ko

"Nagkwenti lang si mommy about sa story nila ni daddy tsaka nung totoo kong mommy" sagot ko bago nahiga sa tabi nya

"Pupunta pala akong school nyo bukas, kukunin ko yung mga bagong activity na pinapagawa sa inyo. Maggogrocery na din ako" simpleng sabi ni Ash bago nahiga sa tabi ko.